Advani neither supporting nor opposing anyone: Naqvi

Panaji, June 6 (IANS) BJP stalwart L.K. Advani is neither supporting nor undermining any party leader, many of whom he and Atal Bihari Vajpayee have hand-held and nurtured into becoming political leaders of today, BJP spokesperson Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said Thursday.

Naqvi, who was speaking to reporters at the Bharatiya Janata Party state headquarters in Panaji, also said that the party was united in its agenda to uproot the corrupt United Progressive Alliance government (UPA) and that the strategic course set during the key three-day meeting of the national executive and the office bearers here June 7-9 would convince detractors of the party's unity.

"He (Advani) and Atalji have nurtured the BJP by making a lot of sacrifices. Their contribution cannot be forgotten by us. They have hand-held the present leadership. If someone is under the misconception that Advaniji is supporting or opposing someone then they should dispel it," Naqvi said, trying to put an end to the controversy which started some days back, after Advani praised the governance skills and humility of Shivraj Singh Chauhan, chief minister of Madhya Pradesh and senior BJP leader.

Advani's remarks came amidst the clamour within the party, as well as not-so-subtle moves by Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi to project himself as the party's prime ministerial candidate.

Naqvi denied the talk of rift within the party, claiming that the BJP leadership was united and had a common agenda: To oust the corrupt, misgoverning Congress from power.

"The party is united, is one, and will work unitedly to uproot corruption and malgovernance from the country. Whether it's Advaniji, Narendra Modiji or Rajnath Singhji, every leader of the party is united. There is no confusion. And after the national executive, when you see the programmes which follow, the Congress will stop misunderstanding," Naqvi said.

Naqvi dodged questions when asked if the three-day Goa meet would end up finalising Modi's name as the campaign in-charge for the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls.

"The meeting will take decisions on different issues. When they are decided we will communicate (them) to you," Naqvi said.

He, however, said that Modi was not just a popular leader within the BJP, but for the entire country too. "He is a leader by performance and good governance. He has made a place for himself in the country. That is a matter of pride for us."